The Roland SPD-SX Sampling Pad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZXwi_wOOPk

In this video, Craig Blundell demonstrates the features of the recently introduced Roland SPD-SX Sampling Pad, a multi-pad percussion instrument with 2 GB of onboard sampling memory and three powerful effects engines.

The SPD-SX puts sample creation and playback under stick control, with audio-capturing features, expressive playability, three multi-effects engine and more. The 2 GB of built-in memory provides more than three hours of CD-quality sampling in stereo, which can be captured via the stereo mic/line input or imported through USB.

The SPD-SX also features new Multi-Pad Sampling, a way to capture, truncate, and assign samples to pads by simply striking pads at the appropriate start/end points of a particular sample.

User samples and factory-preloaded wave data can be organized and stored into kits and played from the nine integrated trigger pads, which include six large pads and three edge triggers. Two dual-trigger inputs allow users to expand the SPD-SX with optional external pads and acoustic drum triggers for more triggering options.

The SPD-SX has three multi-effects units onboard: one master unit and two units that are assignable per kit. In addition, two dedicated front-panel knobs provide real-time control of user-assignable effects.

The bundled SPD-SX Wave Manager software for Mac and PC lets users import audio files from a computer directly via USB, assign the samples to pads, and organize sample files quickly and efficiently. USB also allows users to easily interface the SPD-SX with their computer to communicate directly with DAWs and other music software, so players can use the SPD-SX to trigger software instruments and record MIDI and audio data in the computer.

The SPD-SX can be played on a tabletop or stand, and can be used with standard drum hardware. Other standout features include an intuitive interface and large display, dual stereo outputs, a phones jack, an assignable click with dedicated front-panel level knob, MIDI I/O, and more.

The SPD-SX will be available in October with an MSRP of $1199.00.

4 thoughts on “The Roland SPD-SX Sampling Pad

  1. This seems like it’s going to flop, since alesis just introduced that fairly comparable drum sampler, at about 1/6th of the price.

  2. I own this piece of machine for some time. All is great, but it has some bugs in design. As Roland is claiming this is the best sampler in it’s class, they should have taken into consideration the following features:
    1. The triggers are only 1 per pad. That gives no flavor of more samples of the same kind (i.e. a snare drum kick …slow…harder….and explosive). You could get only 1 flat sound to play softer or harder but same sound. No real feel. Maybe this device is not intended to be used to complement a drum kit.
    2. No possibility to mute the previous kit when you switch to the next. Last previous sound still runs after switch, unless you stop it in advance. So there are 2 actions, and if you are busy with the drumming in the same time, it is almost impossible to use the SPD-SX unless you have only one move to do. Very annoying.
    3. It has Midi but no internal clock.
    And there are many others to be said…

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